Stiff Struggle On Madagascar

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 106, 7 May 1942, Page 7

Stiff Struggle On Madagascar

BRITISH ADVANCE

trench Naval Forces Suffer Heavily; Cruisers Missing

(U.P.A. and British Official Wireless.-Rec. 1 p.m.)

. . , LONDON, May 6. been cm off from .he ,est "f hi i»l," aVal ' la » e ■"» forces have reached Diego S,« l, L thi " ' he B , riti,h A strong force Peninsula, f Reports from Vichy to-sav statpri *»k Madagascar had been reinforced from Dakar and thatXTghting was growing fiercer. Waves of British planes were bombing K Diego Suarez naval base a o d the light naval forces therT n v iPn F . re " Portions have also been bombarded' by the British Fleet, which has been reinforced.

v k Ge "w al GuiMemet ' thc Fren ch commander, reported lo Vichy. We are continuing resistance in the outer trenches of Dieeo Suarez fortress. Every French plane able to take off

Resistance May Collapse It was believed in Vichy to-night that the French troops in SSSTb,:«, 0 h Ul f d „r. ho,d ° Ut mUCI> *• numerically

A message received in Vichy said the situation in Madagascar was critical. Five large, twelve medium and six small British shipl were in Courier Bay. The small French air force was in action with all its strength, but it was added that the British were following up their attacks with increased strength. The French troops were bitterly resisting. ne rrench

Frenc t aba " don t, ? l eir positions they may retire defences. ' they W1 " C ° minUe t0 resbt f-m the natural

Rv w° er, i n Tadl °. quoting reports from Vichy, suggests that British forces have occupied Comoro and Reunion Islands, in the Indian Ocean. The fate of these islands is closely linked with !UlnS aSCar 9 ' nCWS hM Teached Vichy from either group of

.. . ® British United Press Vichy correspondent says two Frenrk light cruisers, the Marseillaise and the Lamotte-Piquet, are missing following the British attack on Madagascar. It is stated that they ? , ° ,ned c t h e B "tish or may be attempting to rejoin the French Fleet at Saigon, in *ndo-China. J .. J h fX' Chy^S a & enc y sa ys that as soon as the British shies and f° P B< \ ugainville and the submarines Leheros and Beyeziers -went forward to attack. The Bouirainville ®*^ Zlerß , y ere * unlc b y gunfire as they launched a torpedo attack on the troop transports. The crtews of the warships W<Se5 r fi ß *h, ,ankr'" COM " 1 defenC ~-

.1- f 3<>,nt Admiralty-ina War Office communique state, that A. i .dv.nc. ofourWe.in northern Madagascar U bein "resisT.d with determinatioiwand -the casualties to-day are heavier The operation, continue.* in with -the support of our naval